“The starting point of all achievement is desire”, said Napoleon Hill and Graeme Smith did desire. He desired, he believed and he definitely achieved it! 33-year-old Smith, the most successful South African captain post Apartheid era and one of the grittiest batsmen of his generation bid adieu to international cricket at the conclusion of the final Test against Australia in Cape Town.
Smith sprang a shock when he informed team-mates after the third day’s play, startling everyone including Cricket South Africa (CSA) chiefs. Smith’s departure from the sport comes after his former team mate and perhaps the world’s finest all-rounder Jacques Kallis exit from the South African Test team in December.
At the age of 22, Smith was appointed the youngest captain in South Africa’s history and had played only 8 tests and had the experience of just a year of international cricket when he was given the responsibility, following the 2003 World Cup. He kept his job as well as performed his part in élan till he walked off the field on March 3 at Newlands in Cape Town. He has helped South Africa win 52 from his 108 Tests as skipper, and has led his nation to more triumphs than any other cricketer.
Smith made his Test debut against Australia at Cape Town on Mar 8-12, 2002 and subsequently made his ODI debut on March 30, 2003 at Bloemfontein versus Australia and was unexpectedly handed over the national captaincy the year next. He is the most capped Test captain in the history of world cricket with a winning percentage of 48.62. He has amassed 9265 Test runs at an average of 48.49, his highest Test score being 277 at Edgbaston in 2003.
He has scored 27 hundreds and 38 half-centuries, with an impressive statistic that not one of his Test centuries resulted in a loss for his side. He scored three consecutive 100s in the West Indies, becoming the first captain since 1977 to finish a Caribbean tour undefeated. His record included two away series victories against both Australia ns England- a feat achieved by no other captain. He was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2004. He has also played 197 ODIs and 33 Twenty20 internationals.
Under Smith’s commendable leadership; the South African team has reached the zenith which no other
captain had ever achieved for the country and has helped restoring South Africa’s high levels on the international stage and becoming one of cricket’s most dangerous batsmen. He once showed great guts and played with a broken hand and almost prevented defeat against Australia: Kallis plays with a broken hand against Australia
Here’s hoping that SA will be able to find a worthy successor to Smith!
PS: The article is written by CricBol.com intern Tulika.